Iran traded 45.28 million tons of goods worth $33.71 billion, excluding crude oil exports, with the 15 neighboring countries sharing land or sea borders, during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21).
The latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration says that the figure registered a 22% fall in terms of weight, but a 2.17% rise in terms of value compared with the corresponding period of last year.
The report showed the UAE was the main trade partner of Iran during the period with 15.69 million tons worth $15.16 billion. It was followed by Turkey with 7.32 million tons worth $7.21 billion and Iraq with 13.31 million tons worth $4.78 billion.
Exports stood at 39.13 million tons worth $16.27 billion during the period, registering a 25.29% and 2.33% decline in terms of weight and value, respectively.
Iraq was the biggest destination of Iranian exports during the period with 13.22 million tons (down 38.88%) of imports worth $4.66 billion (down 23.89%). It was followed by the UAE with 7.6 million tons (up 4.34%) worth $3.98 billion (up 35%) and Turkey with 5.09 million tons (down 55.11%) worth $3.39 billion (down 9.86%).
Imports reached 13.55 million tons worth $17.44 billion during the same period to register a 7.35% decline in terms of weight, but a 7.03% growth in terms of value year-on-year.
The UAE, with 8.08 million worth $11.18 billion (up 11.86%) was the biggest exporter to Iran followed by Turkey with 2.22 million tons worth $3.81 billion (up 17.68%) and Russia with 3.81 million tons worth $1.01 billion (up 1.8%).
The above figures on exports and imports show Iran registered $1.17 billion in trade deficit with its neighbors during the eight months to Nov. 21.